Air humidifier for internal combustion engines



April 4, 1939. w. G. HARDT A 2,153,248

AIR HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 4, 1938 I t l T l I I 1 I l I I? ,LJ l,

Izwwzzor Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED snares PATENT orries AIR HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES William G. Hardt, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 4, 1938, Serial No. 211.762

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved air humidifier for internal combustion engines.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel and improved humidifier for properly moistening the air in passing from the air to provide an annular well i i between said walls 5 cleaner to the carburetor of an internal combusfor containing liquid, and providing an inner air tion engine. to effect economy in the use of the channel or shaft !5 within the inner wall l2. fuel Said liquid is supplied to the well thru an inlet Another object of this invention is to provide tube or conduit l6 which is secured to a mouth I! an improved humidifier whereby a slight amount on the casing and extends from a tank or reser- 10 of water or similar liquid is added to the fuel voir l8 containing the liquid, such as water. mixture in the form of a'finely divided and rari- Moisture distributing means permeable fled spray, so as to increase the moisture content means 20 is mounted across the air channel H3 in the fuel mixture to the greatest and most efin the casing, and t is me is preferably in ficient degree and produce a more complete and the form of fabric sheet means and includes a economical combustion of the fuel, plurality of fabric members or diaphragms, three Another object of this invention is to provide uc e e 22 and being Shown in such a humidifier which is provided with means this form of humidifier illustrated. These memto shut off the water supply automatically when h may be of radu lly vary ng fin n nd the fuel supply is shut off or when the engine permeability to better distribute or rarify the idles, in order that the moisture distributing l q particles to a fi sp ymeans can become dry, to avoid rotting, when Spacing means o e e e ts are used to retain the engin i t in u e, the fabric members properly spaced. These ele- These nd variou th objects and advanmerits include rings or washers 24, which may be tages are attained with this invention, as will be- Of 3 grained cork, other Slightly om- 25 come apparent from the following description, Dressihle and hon-porous material, Sa d rings betaken in connection with the accompanying drawplaced between the Outer marginal P s Of ing wherein the invention is shown in its prethe fabric diaphragms and are supported on the ferred form; it being understood that various inner Wall F3, in Such a manner that the edges other arrangements and form of construction of the fabric diaphragms p ct beyond said may b ad t d i carrying t, th objects and rings into the well It, to absorb liquid therefrom purposes f this invention and admit it to their central portions. Other In th drawing; spacing elements 25 are also placed between the Fig; 1 is an elevational View, illustrating this intermediate parts of the diaphragm to keep the invention diagrammatically as applied to the conlatter evenly Spaced p and these elements necting portion between the air cleaner and the re preferably in the formof Cords eXtehding carburetor of an internal combustion engine, with thru the diaphragms and each aving a knot 26 the liquid control valve automatically operated tied therein between each two adjacent diarby th operation of t t ttl valve. phragms, to serve for spacing the intermediate Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view Parts of the latter, as best Shown in 40 t k centrally th th humidifier Means is also provided to secure the dia- Fig. 3 is in part a plan and in part a sectional phragms and the spacing elements in place, and view of th humidifier, t k n along li 3 3 of this includes a securing collar or annular nut 2! Fig. 2. t which has threads thereon engaged in threads The humidifier or air moistener which is dis- On one f t casing Wells, being p a ly closed in this application is shown as applied to threaded t0 the Outer Wall is and Covering the the connecting portion between the carburetor 5 W611 It has all 1 1 nnular wall 28 which and the air cleaner 6 of an internal combustion be on t Spacing rings to press them firm engine, for example of an automobile. It is prefly together and clamp the fabric therebetween, erably arranged to be mounted upon the air inand the inner edge 8 of Wa 23 is p b y take neck 7 of the carburetor 5, being l t d beveled, to aid the silencer 9 in its silencing func-- within the neck 8 of the silencer portion 9 of the tion- Notch-es 29 are p v in the e r ng nut air cleaner 6, which surrounds said neck 1. A to receive the p s O a oo in adjusting split metal band In may be used to secure these the nut on the casing for securing the fabric means 20 and the spacing rings in place; and

parts together.

companion notches 3!! are similarly provided in casing H for receiving similar prongs, to facilitate relative turning of threaded nut 21 on the threads of easing I l, to secure the parts firmly but adjustably together.

A guard screen 3! is preferably mounted in the lower part of the air shaft IS.

A control valve 32 is interposed in liquid conduit l6, and its lever 33 is connected by a rod 34 with the control lever 35 of the throttle valve, so that the liquid control valve 32 will be automatically operated by the operation of said throttle valve and its lever 35 thru the control rod 36 attached to said lever. By opening the throttle valve the liquid control valve 32 will also be opened to the required extent, and when the throttle valve is closed or in idling position then valve 32 will also be closed, to shut off the liquid from the fabric sheet means and enable the latter to dry out and avoid rotting.

The adjustable and removable securing nut 21 facilitates properly clamping the spacing rings 24 with the sheet means in place, and likewise facilitates the removal and replacement of said sheet means whenever desired.

I claim:

1. A humidifier mountable in the connecting portion between a carburetor and an air cleaner an internal combustion engine, said humidifier comprising a casing fitting in said connecting portion and including an inner air channel and a well therearound for containing liquid, fabric means stretched across said air channel and having the end means extending into the well, and means removably and adjustably mounted on the casing for securing the fabric means firmly in place but permit removal thereof.

2. A humidifier mountable in the connecting portion between a carburetor and an air cleaner,

said humidifier comprising a tubular casing fitting in said portion and including spaced walls providing a liquid well between said walls also an air channel within the inner wall, fabric means stretched across said air channel and the inner wall and having the end means protruding into the well to absorb moisture therefrom, and securing means including means threaded on said casing for covering said well and for securing said fabric means firmly but adjustably in position.

3. A humidifier mountable in the connecting portion between a carburetor and an air cleaner carried thereon, said humidifier comprising a casing fitting in said portion and including an inner air channel and a liquid well around the same, a plurality of fabric sheet members stretched across said channel and having the ends extending into the well, means between the fabric members for spacing them, and means on the casing for securing the fabric members and spacing means in place.

4. The subject matter set forth in claim 3,

'wherein said securing means includes a nut threaded on the casing for adjustably and removably securing the fabric members and spacing means in position.

5. A humidifier adapted to be mounted on the neck of a carburetor having the neck of an air cleaner mounted around the same, said humidifier comprising a casing of rigid material fitting in said neck and including spaced walls providing a liquid well between the walls also an air channel within the inner wall, a plurality of fabric sheet members stretched across said air chan nel and having the ends extending into the well, annular non-porous means mounted between the marginal portions of said fabric members for spacing them, means between the intermediate parts of said fabric members for retaining them properly spaced, and means on the casing for securing the fabric members and the spacing means therebetween in place.

6. The subject matter, set forth in claim 5, wherein said intermediate spacing means consists of cords extending thru the fabric members and having knots tied between each two adjacent members.

7. The subject matter set forth in claim 5, wherein said annular spacing means consists of partly compressible spacing rings, and the securing member consists of a metal nut having threaded engagement with the outer wall of the casing and being arranged to cover the well and also to be adjustably fastened down on the spacing rings and the fabric members.

8. A humidifier mountable in the connecting neck portion between an air cleaner and a carburetor provided with a throttle valve, said humidifier comprising a casing fitting in said connecting portion and including an inner air channel and also a liquid well, fabric means stretched across said air channel and having the end means extending into the well, means for securing the fabric means firmly in place, a valve equipped conduit on the casing for supplying liquid to the well, and means operatively connecting said liquid valve with the throttle valve, whereby the liquid valve will be automatically opened and closed with the opening and closing of the throttle valve.

WILLIAM G. HARDT. 

